Politics & Government

UPDATED: Wyandotte Fire Department Receives $616,000 Grant

The federal grant is earmarked for departments to hire additional firefighters.

The Wyandotte Fire Department has received a $616,876 federal grant that's earmarked toward hiring additional firefighters.

Wyandotte Fire Chief Jeffery Carley said the grant would allow for four new firefighters to be hired for a two-year period at no cost to the city.

"I'm ecstatic," Carley said.

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The City of Wyandotte still needs to vote to accept the grant, Carley said.

Nearby Trenton Fire Department received a similiar grant totaling $736,410.

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The money comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program, according to Michigan Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, who jointly announced the grant Thursday afternoon.

“Our firefighters provide critical, courageous service to communities, like Wyandotte and Trenton," Stabenow said. "This grant provides the resources they need to perform their duties safely and protect the public.”

“It is vital that we maintain the fire protection our citizens need,” Levin said.  “These grants will help the fire departments in Trenton and Wyandotte hire more first responders to protect their communities when an emergency strikes.” 

The Assistance to Firefighters Grants are part of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program, a competitive grant process to help ensure that fire departments nationwide have the frontline firefighters they need to protect their communities.

Carley said he originally applied for the SAFER grant in January of this year, but his request was turned down in the early summer.

He re-applied for the grant on Aug. 9, 2012, and this time, the Wyandotte Fire Department received good news.

"I'm geeked," Carley said.

NOTE: This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. on Dec. 14 to include quotes and additional information from Wyandotte Fire Chief Jeffery Carley.


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